Nintendo Direct: 3DS Will Have Exclusive Smash Run Mode

In the latest Nintendo Direct, hosted by Smash Bros. producer Masahiro Sakarai, a new gameplay mode was announced exclusively for the 3DS version of the upcoming Super Smash Bros. The new mode is called Smash Run, and will offer a new spin on how friends battle against each other.

When starting Smash Run, up to four players are sent to a large stage composed of several dungeons populated with enemies. The purpose of this stage is to give players the opportunity to find treasure chests filled with items that can boost the fighters' stats from attack to jumping height. While each player is in the same stage, Sakarai pointed out that players' time is not necessarily better spent attacking players. Instead they should focus on acquiring as many power-ups as possible. Once the timer is over, each player will choose which of the status boosters will be used on their fighter. Sakarai concluded that Smash Run is a great way to have many, quick battles with friends.

While an exclusive game mode is a great incentive to choose one console version over the other, it also begs the question what the Wii U version will have in terms of exclusive content other than certain fighting stages.